Jah Laughs

Lyrics:John Perry BarlowMusic:Bob Weir

Played by Bob Weir with Bobby & The Midnites in 1982 and 1983.
John Perry Barlow has confirmed that he wrote the lyrics.
It seems that the official title is "Jah Laughs", though DeadBase lists it
(mostly) as "Laughing At Me." I've also seen "Jah Laffs", "Your
Laugh" and "Your Love" in tape and set lists.

Someone like a father
Has been laughing at me
Held me in derision
For some twenty centuries
He laughed when I was crazy
And he laughed when I was sane
And the only thing not funny
Was the sound of his own name

He came as though a whirlwind
Preaching ignorance to me
Then he came with good intentions
But his kid won't let us be
And in spite of all pretensions
Seems most easily pleased
'Cause every time he finds a sight
Of such a thing as me

[chorus]

He is jealous, he is wrathful
He is pompous, he is vain
[Too busy kind of] sin
Too petty to complain

Someone like my father
Has been laughing at me
Held me in derision
For some twenty centuries
He laughed when I was crazy
An he laughed when I was sane
Only thing not funny
Is the sound of his own name

[chorus]

He is jealous, he is wrathful
He is pompous, he is vain
[Too busy kind of] sin
Too petty to complain